Brennan Boesch's role with Detroit Tigers in 2013 unclear, but team plans to keep him in fold

Brennan Boesch will be eligible for arbitration this offseason.AP File Photo

DETROIT -- Brennan Boesch had a forgettable season for the Detroit Tigers in 2012.

The Tigers will give him another shot in 2013.

General manager Dave Dombrowski said Tuesday afternoon that the Tigers will tender a contract offer to Boesch, who is eligible for arbitration for the first time. If the Tigers declined to tender him a contract, he would have become a free agent.

"I think it's the case that he still has ability, he
can still hit the ball out of the ballpark," Dombrowski said. "We still see some untapped
potential, and he has struggled some. He hasn't made the strides we'd like him
to make. However, sometimes power hitters take longer to come about, too."

Boesch saw his numbers drop off drastically from 2011 to 2012. He hit .283 with a .799 OPS in 2011 and .240 with a .659 OPS in 2012. The Tigers left him off the playoff roster in all three rounds of the postseason.

The Tigers will open the 2013 season with Austin Jackson in center, but the corner outfield spots are up for grabs. The Tigers have several internal candidates to start every day or to platoon, but the team could also seek a starter via a trade or free agency.

Boesch is in the mix with guys like Andy Dirks, Quintin Berry and Avisail Garcia. Prospect Nick Castellanos could be in the mix.

"I cannot look you and tell you that he's a given, that one of those
corner spots are his at this time," Dombrowski said of Boesch. "That's something you have to earn, by all
means. But that doesn't mean you go and non-tender him because I think he has
value.

"I think in the case that he still has
ability. He still hit the ball out of the ballpark. We still see some untapped
potential."